Explicit book gift sparks complaint
FORUM FILE PHOTO
South Nodaway School Building 2023
BARNARD, Mo. — A mother and several community members expressed concern to the South Nodaway Board of Education last week about a school employee providing a book with explicit content to a 13-year-old student.
At the heart of the matter is the gift of the book “Layla,” by Colleen Hoover, from school nurse Tabitha Holtman to a 13-year-old student. The book, a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best seller, is described as “a novel that explores life after tragedy and the enduring spirit of love.”
Hoover is a New York Times bestselling author whose romance novels are aimed at young adults and what publishers call “new adults” around their early twenties. Her books have sometimes been criticized for romanticizing sexual abuse and often contain heavy themes.
“Layla” includes detailed descriptions of sexual acts and supernatural themes the student’s mother said.
Since the student is underage, The Forum is withholding identifying information, including the name of the mother.
After the Oct. 15 school board meeting, the mother of the student told The Forum that Holtman asked the father of the student at a football game for permission to give the girl the book. The mother said she was never informed about it and only found out about the book when her daughter brought it to her and said she didn’t feel comfortable reading it.
After checking into the book, the mother contacted school officials.
“I found that wildly inappropriate,” she said. “… The whole thing is just frustrating.”
Superintendent Dustin Skoglund told The Forum in an email that the district administration and board are aware of the content of the novel and have determined that the book was inappropriate for a staff member to share with a student.
“The issue was addressed by school administration in compliance with all district policies and in consultation with legal counsel,” he wrote. “The board was informed on the steps taken to address the personnel involved and determined no further action was needed at this time.”
During discussion of the topic at last week’s board meeting, Board President Rick Holtman, husband of Tabitha Holtman, recused himself and left the building.
Skoglund further explained that the issue was handled in closed session at last week’s board meeting because the book was not provided to the student as a school-related item.
“It was a personal item exchanged based on a history of discussing popular novels and a shared interest in reading,” he wrote. “The agenda item was to present the facts of the situation and inform the board on how the administration was addressing the staff member’s conduct and lapse of judgment making it a personnel matter and requiring closed session.”
Skoglund said he was not legally allowed to share more information about a personnel matter, including with the mother who made the complaint.
The mother told The Forum she reported the book incident to the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office.
In an email on Monday, Sheriff Austin Hann told The Forum his office is investigating. It’s not clear what law Holtman is under investigation for potentially violating.
Holtman, who also is a coach of the student’s dance team, told The Forum in a Monday email that she didn’t want to comment because it is her understanding the case is still under investigation.
“But I hope that until ‘all’ the facts are out, everyone reserves judgment for those involved,” she wrote.
